Category: Customs Duties

If you are moving goods across borders, an EORI number may be essential for customs clearance. Whether trading with the EU, Northern Ireland, or beyond, knowing which type you need—GB, XI, or EU—can save time and hassle. Here’s what you need to know.

The EORI number is required for the following situations:

• Moving goods between Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) or the Isle of Man and any other country, including EU member states.
• Moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• Moving goods between Great Britain and the Channel Islands.
• Moving goods between Northern Ireland and countries outside the EU.

The type of EORI number required and where to obtain it depends on the origin and destination of the goods. If you are moving goods to or from Great Britain, you need an EORI number that starts with GB, followed by a 12-digit number based on the business's VAT number.

For movements involving Northern Ireland, you need an EORI number that starts with XI. If you are making declarations or receiving customs decisions within the EU, you may need an EU EORI number from an EU country.

An EORI number is not necessary where both of the following apply:

• The goods being moved are not controlled.
• The goods are for personal use only.

Economic operators (EOs) that are not established in the UK (for a GB EORI) or in Northern Ireland (for an XI EORI) may still be able to register for an EORI number under certain conditions.

Understanding when and which type of EORI number is required is important in order to comply with necessary customs regulations when moving goods internationally.

Customs declarations can be difficult and time consuming to complete. Businesses can make their own custom's declarations; however, this is complex and requires specialist skills and software. 

Most businesses use a specialist such as a customs agent, broker, freight forwarder or fast parcel operator to submit import and export customs declarations on their behalf. HMRC publishes a regularly updated list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who may be able to help.

The list is known as the register of customs agents and fast parcel operators and has recently been updated. It should be noted that businesses on these lists are not vetted, approved or recommended by HMRC and proper due diligence should be used. 

HMRC’s guidance is clear that if your goods do not have the right paperwork, or if information is incorrect or missing, your goods may be seized, and you may face delays and have to pay extra charges. 

If you are moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free Trader Support Service can also help guide you through the necessary processes. This service can also help businesses who import goods into Northern Ireland from the rest of the world. The use of this service is optional. 

HMRC has a useful online tool to help UK business owners check how to import or export goods. This online tool can be used by businesses, the self-employed and agents acting on behalf of a business.

Using the online tool you can obtain information on:

• the commodity codes (reference numbers) you need to classify goods for import and export declarations;
• paying the right VAT and duties for your goods;
• which licences and certificates you will need for your goods; and
• how to move goods into a specific country.

There are many special procedures to be aware of when importing or exporting goods to / from the UK. Following the end of the Brexit transition period, the process for importing / exporting goods to / from the EU effectively mirrors the process for all other international destinations. There are different rules if you are moving goods in or out of Northern Ireland under what is known as the Windsor framework.

The online check can be a useful tool for smaller businesses and the self-employed to familiarise themselves with the necessary requirements and work accordingly. Businesses can make customs declarations themselves or hire a third party such as a courier, freight forwarder or customs agent to do the paperwork.

All businesses can now move their export declarations to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), HMRC has confirmed.

Businesses who have yet to move their export declarations to CDS will have a transition period to move across, until 4 June 2024. After this date, customs declarations cannot be submitted through the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service.

CDS is replacing CHIEF and provides businesses with a more user-friendly, streamlined system with greater functionality. It has been running since 2018 for import declarations and more than 100 million customs declarations have already been submitted through CDS, including more than 30% of all export declarations.

Paying duties and VAT

To make an import declaration you need to choose how to pay duties, VAT or excise.

The Customs Declaration Service allows you to manage your customs financial accounts and download statements. You can also give authority to others to use your accounts.

Check how to import or export goods

You can check how to import and export goods using the GOV.UK online service at https://www.gov.uk/check-how-to-import-export.

Using this facility you can get information on:

• the commodity codes (reference numbers) you need to classify goods for import and export declarations
• paying the right VAT and duties for your goods
• which licences and certificates you’ll need for your goods
• how to get goods into a specific country

You will also need to know the approximate date when the goods will arrive at or leave the UK border.

If your business does offer customs services, did you know that HMRC could offer you a free listing on their published lists.

HMRC do not vet, approve or recommend individual firms. Information is simply provided to HMRC by customs agents and fast parcel operators and listed as presented.

However, many businesses that need the services of an agent to manage their customs requirements, will likely be accessing the government listings.

To add your business to the government lists you are requested to:

Email customsagentstrainingproviders@hmrc.gov.uk with:

• the name of your business
• your contact telephone number, email address and business website address
• if you would like to be listed as an agent, a fast parcel operator, or both

You can also advise HMRC if you:

• are available to take on new clients
• can function as a direct representative or indirect representative, or both
• provide services for smaller traders
• can help move goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks
• offer customs clearances using advance fixing certificates, roll on roll off port, or common transit
• offer customs services:
  • with a duty deferment account
  • using simplified declarations
  • for shipments of personal goods
• provide an advisory or consultancy service (for example, advice on supply chains, moving goods and trading terms)
• want to be signed up for the monthly Customs Intermediaries Bulletin — which gives you the latest HMRC news for customs agents and fast parcel operators
• offer an out of hours service (outside of usual business hours which are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)
• can facilitate or assist with the movement of goods through pre-lodgement ports, using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS)
• offer services for completing entry summary declarations for goods imported into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) using the Safety and Security GB (S&S GB) service
• offer services to facilitate movements using Customs Declaration Service

You can ask for your company name or other details to be removed at any time.

The UK and Scottish governments have jointly announced that Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport have been successful in their bids to establish two new Green Freeports in Scotland. Each of these Freeports will be granted up to £26 million in funding over the next few years, primarily to address infrastructure gaps which are currently holding back investment.

Freeports are a special kind of port where normal tax and customs rules do not apply. Rather, there are simplified customs procedures and duty suspensions on goods. This announcement builds on the UK Government’s successful Freeport programme in England, where there are currently eight operational Freeports with a further five sites recently being granted final government approval.

After designation, businesses in Freeport tax sites are able to benefit from various tax reliefs including:

• an enhanced 10% rate of structures and buildings allowance;
• an enhanced capital allowance of 100%;
• full relief from Stamp Duty Land Tax;
• business rates relief on certain business premises within freeport tax sites; and
• employer National Insurance contributions relief, subject to Parliamentary process and approval.

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is a customs IT platform designed to modernise the process for completing customs declarations for businesses that import or export goods from the UK. A phased launch of the service started in August 2018 and was due to be completed by 31 March 2023. The CDS covers export declarations of goods sent from the UK. This phase has now been delayed until 30 November 2023, an 8-month delay. 

HMRC’s Director of Border Change Delivery commented that:

'We have moved the deadline to enable us to spend more time working with industry in delivering and testing critical functionality as well as the support needed to help declarants move across to the new system. The extra time also allows businesses and stakeholders more time to prepare their customers and software products for the November deadline.'

When the transfer to the CDS is complete, the old Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service will close. The first stage of this withdrawal started on 30 September 2022 when the ability to make import declarations on CHIEF closed for the vast majority of users. From 1 December 2023, the ability to make export declarations using CHIEF will also be withdrawn.

HMRC has confirmed that they will provide further information about the exact timeline for CDS exports by the end of January 2023.

Businesses importing goods must submit import declarations from 1 October 2022 using the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The CDS is a customs IT platform designed to modernise the process for completing customs declarations for businesses that import or export goods from and to the UK.

A phased launch of the service started in August 2018. The CDS is used for making import and export declarations when moving goods into and out of the UK.

The CHIEF system is being withdrawn in two stages. The first stage, 30 September 2022, saw the ability to make import declarations on CHIEF close. From 1 October 2022, businesses who did not move across to the CDS are now unable to import goods into the UK. The second stage will happen on 31 March 2023 when the CHIEF system will fully close. From this date, the ability to make export declarations using CHIEF will also be withdrawn.

Even businesses that use a customs agents need to ensure they take the following steps:

• subscribe to the CDS;
• choose a payment method;
• check their standing authorities are correctly set up; and
• give their customs agent customs clearance instructions.

HMRC’s Director of Programme and Operational Delivery for Borders and Trade said:

'Those concerned about moving across to the Customs Declaration Service should work with a customs agent who is ready to use the system and can make declarations on their behalf.'

Tariff quotas are a special mechanism for importing limited supplies of specific goods at a lower rate of customs duty than would normally apply. The quotas usually apply to imports from specific countries. Most tariff quotas operate on a first come first serve basis and when the quota runs out, the duty rate returns to normal.

There is no requirement to claim a tariff quota if there is a lower option or if the same rate of duty available under:

• other preference arrangements
• an import duty suspension

There are online tools available to check which goods are covered and a claim should ideally be made when the goods are entering free circulation. In certain circumstances it is possible to make a backdated claim up to 3 years after the goods have been imported but only if the tariff quota remains available. 

HMRC’s new guidance on claiming quotas states that they can be:

• open – the quota is not expected to exhaust for some time and a lower rate of duty can be given automatically to any valid claim.
• critical – the quota may be nearing exhaustion or there is no information to base a prediction of how quickly it will be used up.
• quota exhausted – all claims will be rejected.

In the Spring Budget earlier this year, the chancellor announced that eight Freeport locations would be created in England. The Freeports will be in the East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, the Humber region, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, the Solent, the Thames, and Teesside. 

Freeports are a special kind of port where normal tax and customs rules do not apply rather there are simplified customs procedures and duty suspensions on goods. This will allow firms to import components and other pre-manufactured goods into a Freeport without paying taxes. The goods would then be processed into a finished product to be built in the UK.

In these new Freeport areas, no duties will be charged on goods or materials until they leave the zone as a finished product for the UK domestic market. There should be no UK tariffs payable when the finished product is re-exported directly from the Freeport.

HMRC has published new guidance to help businesses get ready to use a Freeport site. You cannot currently use the Freeport customs special procedure to import or export excise goods. HMRC’s guidance will be updated with details when this becomes possible. 

If you are moving goods to or from the UK then you need to ensure that you have all the correct procedures in place. This is a complex area, and you may need to consider the support of a customs agent to help with your import and / or export declarations. 

Customs declarations can be difficult and time consuming to complete.

Most businesses use a specialist such as a customs agent, broker, freight forwarder or fast parcel operator to submit import and export customs declarations on their behalf. HMRC publishes a regularly updated list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who may be able to help. The list if known as the register of customs agents and fast parcel operators. It should be noted that businesses on these lists are not vetted, approved or recommended by HMRC and proper due diligence should be used in selecting an adviser from the list. 

HMRC’s guidance is clear that if your goods do not have the right paperwork or if information is incorrect or missing, your goods may be seized and you may face delays and have to pay extra charges. 

If you are moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free Trader Support Service can help guide you through the necessary processes. This service can also help businesses who import goods into Northern Ireland from the rest of the world. The use of this service is optional. 

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) has been designed to modernise the process for completing customs declarations for businesses that import or export goods from the UK. A phased launch of the service started in August 2018 and more than one million declarations have been made since then. The CDS system is currently used for Northern Ireland and Rest of World declarations.

HMRC has now confirmed that all businesses will need to declare goods through the CDS from 31 March 2023. This will result in the closure of the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) service. The CHIEF system is over 25 years old and has struggled to cope with complex reporting requirements that could not easily or cost-effectively be accommodated within the existing service. 

HMRC has confirmed that ahead of the 31 March 2023 complete closure, services on CHIEF will be withdrawn in two stages:

• 30 September 2022: import declarations close on CHIEF
• 31 March 2023: export declarations close on CHIEF / National Exports System (NES)

The decision to introduce the CDS was system driven to provide a more secure and stable platform and predated Britain’s vote to leave the EU. Importers and exporters should by now be well aware of the CDS system, and they or their agent should be starting to prepare for the further rollout and eventual replacement of the CHIEF system.

The joint Directors General for Borders and Trade at HMRC, said:

‘CDS is a key part of the government’s plans for a world-leading fully digitised border that will help UK businesses to trade and to prosper. This announcement will provide clarity for traders and the border industry. We are committed to making the switch-over as smooth as possible and are working to ensure traders are fully supported with the new processes.'

The Brexit transition period has come to an end and a new customs border has been created between the UK and EU. If you are moving goods to or from the UK then you need to ensure that you have all the correct procedures in place.

One of the most important areas that businesses must consider is how to make customs declarations. Customs declarations can be difficult and time consuming to complete. Businesses can make their own customs declarations; however, this is complex and requires specialist skills and software. 

Most businesses use a specialist such as a customs agent, broker, freight forwarder or fast parcel operator to submit import and export customs declarations on their behalf. HMRC publishes a regularly updated list of customs agents and fast parcel operators who may be able to help.

Since 1 January 2021, customs agents can make simplified declarations for you using their own authorisation, so you don’t need to be authorised. They can only do this if:

• your business is established in the United Kingdom
• your business imports goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
• the customs agent has the appropriate authorisation

HMRC’s guidance is clear that if your goods do not have the right paperwork, or if information is incorrect or missing, your goods may be seized, and you may face delays and have to pay extra charges. 

If you are moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free Trader Support Service can help guide you through new processes. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, all Northern Ireland businesses will continue to have unfettered access to the whole UK market. 

Over the past few months, HMRC has unveiled a package of measures to accelerate the growth of the UK's customs intermediary sector. These announcements included £50 million of new funding to support businesses with recruitment, training and supplying IT equipment to handle customs declarations as the transition period comes to an end on 31 December 2020.

The application process for the £50 million of additional funding opened on 29 July 2020. HMRC, which is running the scheme, is encouraging customs intermediaries (including customs brokers, freight forwarders and express parcel operators) and traders who make their own declarations to take advantage of the funding now. Grants will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Applications will close on 30 June 2021, or earlier if all funding is allocated.

The grant can be used to cover salary costs for new or redeployed staff, up to a limit of £12,000 per person and £3,000 to meet recruitment costs for new employees. This will help businesses recruit new staff and train them ahead of July 2021, when all traders moving goods will have to make declarations.

Prior to the launch of this additional £50 million of funding, HMRC has already invested £34 million which has been used to fund more than 20,000 training courses, nearly 15,000 units of IT and the recruitment of almost 600 new customs agents.

The government also intends to change?rules which will remove the financial liability from intermediaries operating on behalf of their clients and to allow parcel operators to continue declaring multiple consignments in a single customs declaration.

The Brexit transition period is due to end 31 December 2020. The UK and EU have agreed there will not be any further extensions, although with the COVID-19 outbreak nothing appears certain. As things currently stand, no formal trade deal has been reached with the EU. Consequently, it seems likely that the process for exporting goods to the EU will change from 1 January 2021.

Current guidance published by HMRC states that from 1 January 2021, businesses will need to make customs declarations when exporting goods to the EU. These rules currently apply to exporting goods to the rest of the world, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Businesses, especially those that only trade with EU, should be making the necessary preparations for how they will trade with the EU next year. Businesses can make customs declarations themselves or hire a third-party such as a courier, freight forwarder or customs agent.

Some important points to bear in mind are as follows:

1. Make sure you have an EORI number that starts with GB. You will need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number starting with GB to import/export goods from 1 January 2021.
2. Check the rules for your type of goods. For example, check what import/export licences or certificates you need, check the labelling and marketing standards for food, plant seeds and manufactured goods and check the rules for importing/exporting alcohol, tobacco and certain oils.
3. Find out if you can charge VAT at 0% on goods exported to the EU.
4. There are likely to be different rules if you are exporting goods from Northern Ireland to Ireland.